Paulo Freire was a Brazilian educator with nonconformist ideas and philosophies, who dared to critique and criticize adult education. He felt that schools contributed to the marginalization of minorities and the poor because they were there to educate the intelligent, literate students and people who were unable to read or write well were not likely to be going to school. However, this only contributes to their oppression. Because a person is uneducated does not by any means mean they are unintelligent. These people should not be excluded from making decisions (such as political) that will have an effect on their future. People of all races, religions, socioeconomic standing, and educational backgrounds have much knowledge to contribute to society. The difference is that some learned what they know in school and some learned lessons throughout their lives. Is one type of knowledge more or less valuable than the other? Freire also believed that the teachers had much to learn from their students and should have open minds to receive all types of input. I agree with this point because no one knows everything and everyone can gain knowledge of some kind by listening to another human being.
During my studies this semester, I have used Freier's philosophy while studying the selected periods in Latin American history. In the movie "A Walk In The Clouds" I saw how a man was judged, put down and not accepted because of his lack of family lineage. He was an orphan and did not know anything about his family, so the father of his faux wife did not accept him. In studying the Olmec society, I read how the lower classes were sacrificed. Everything that I have studied in this course has shown that privilege truly has its rewards. People who are born into poverty and the lower classes must struggle to be accepted and successful in their society. Through my studies of Evita Peron, I found that people did not respect her and they doubted her motives, which I believe was because she was a successful woman, which was very rare in that era. Why is it that throughout history, society has judged people for what they are and where they came from rather than who they are and what they have accomplished?
My classmate Michelle's report on Caesar Chavez in Project 5 shows us that he, like Freire, fought for the wages, recognition and fair treatment of the less fortunate, the impoverished, and the uneducated farm workers. He lived, perhaps unknowingly, by Freire’s philosophy. People of all types can make a positive difference in our society and create changes that will benefit the future generations.
In Matt's Project 5A, on the Mexican Massacre, we learned how thousands of students were peacefully protesting for better education and equal rights for all, and the Mexican government surrounded them, opened fire and murdered hundreds of them. These students were also trying to make a positive difference. They, like Freire, believed in equal education and rights for all races, religions, and socioeconomic classes. The massacre was the governments way of shutting them up and getting the protest over with quickly due to the Olympic Games that were to take place in their county the following day. How could such a thing happen? Who were the people in government who actually had the power to put so many to death? Who were those people that were so afraid of recourse that they actually followed the orders rather than following their own conscience? We see this in society at a lot of different levels. Peer pressure, political bribery, campaign funding, etc. How can people forget who and what they are in order to get to where they want to be? Why did the government see this peaceful protest as such a slap in the face? It is truly unfortunate that incidences like this also change society. They invoke fear in people that want to make a difference. People like Freire, who can see the positive and the benefits that all human beings have to offer.
In conclusion, I have greatly benefited from the introduction to Freire. He has given me, and hopefully others a new perspective with which to view other societies and individuals without jumping to conclusions or judging too quickly. I have learned about ancient civilizations, conquistadors from ancient history, and political figures from not so long ago with a different perspective. I have given more thought to situations, and cultures than ever before. I have been enlightened with a way in which to view art and film that I did not have. I have truly enjoyed and benefited from this class.
